APH News & Press
Institutions Forge Alliance to Explore the Most Effective Method for Increasing Braille Literacy Among Blind And Visually Impaired Students
News Release: Louisville, Kentucky, January 13, 2003
The American Printing House for the Blind has been providing $400,000.00 over a five-year period for the first in-depth, longitudinal study of the progress of young braille readers. The study is being undertaken because of the concern of professionals and parents that children who are blind are not acquiring literacy skills that may reflect their capabilities.
The study is designed to discover whether there are significant differences in the reading, writing, and spelling skills of children who begin to learn to read with uncontracted braille and those who begin to learn to read with contracted braille. The research team will be lead by Dr. Anne Corn, of Vanderbilt University, Ed.D, Professor of Special Education, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee.
Today, most students begin by learning the contracted braille system. Until the 1950’s, students learned the uncontracted system, first. The study will follow a group of students who are initially taught uncontracted braille and another group who are initially taught contracted braille in order to discover whether the two methods produce differences in students’ progress in the following areas:
- reading efficiency, vocabulary, fluency, comprehension, attitude toward reading, and reading achievement levels
- writing, vocabulary, attitude toward writing, and spelling abilities
- the quality and quantity of literacy and interactive experiences in general education classrooms, the home environment, and in the community
Team Members
The parameters and concept for the study were developed by a group that included team leader, Anne L. Corn, Ed. D, Vanderbilt University, and other researchers:
- Lizabeth Barclay, California School for the Blind, Fremont, California
- Chris Craig, Ed.D., Associate Dean, College of Education, Southwest Missouri State University, Springfield, Missouri
- Frances Mary D’Andrea, M. Ed., Director, American Foundation for the Blind National Literacy Center, Atlanta, Georgia
- Jane Erin, Ph.D., Department of Special Education, Rehabilitation, and School Psychology, College of Education, University of Arizona, Tucson
- Cay Holbrook, Ph.D., Faculty of Education, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia
- Julie Ituarte, Blindness Skills Specialist, Southwest Missouri State University, Springfield, Missouri
- Alan J. Koenig, Ed.D., Professor of Special Education, College of Education,Texas Tech University, Lubbock
- Stephanie Leigh-Herlich, MA, Special Education, Teacher of the Visually Impaired, Orientation and Mobility Specialist, Contra Costa, County Office of Education, Martinez, California
- Eleanor Pester, Research Scientist, American Printing House for the Blind, Louisville, Kentucky
- Sharon Zell Sacks, Ph.D. Professor and Coordinator, Teacher Preparation Program in Visual Impairment, California State University, Los Angeles
- Robert Wall, Ph.D., COMS, Research Assistant Professor, Vanderbilt University, Bill Wilkerson Center for Otolaryngology and Communication Sciences, Nashville, Tennessee
- Diane P. Wormsley, Ph.D., Program Director, Professional Preparation Program for Teachers of Children with Visual and Multiple Disabilities, Pennsylvania College of Optometry, Elkins Park, Pennsylvania
Contact Roberta Williams, Public Affairs and Special Projects Manager, for more information. Telephone: 1 -800-223-1839 or (502) 895-2405; e-mail: email hidden; JavaScript is required
